Super Salads Health Article

Salads and diets have always had a delicious partnership. By changing your eating habits and making salads part of your weekly menu, you can be sure of getting a nutritious, filling meal as you work towards your goal. Salads allow you to enjoy an ample amount of food that helps you feel satisfied on fewer calories.

The hearty salads we created for The EatingWell Diet are delicious, and they go way beyond just helping you to feel full and satisfied. With vegetables at their core, they're great sources of vitamin C, and the leafiest among them supply plenty of that "foliage" vitamin, folate. The most colorful combinations—spiked with tomatoes, carrots, cabbage or bell peppers—also deliver vitamin A (as beta carotene), lycopene and other key phytonutrients. With the addition of a little lean protein like steak, turkey breast, cooked beans or cheese for staying power, you have a meal in a bowl that's anything but deprivation, whether you're counting calories or not.

A great salad deserves a great dressing, of course, so we've also created plenty to use interchangeably, ranging from creamy herb-flecked types to flavorful vinaigrettes. The few minutes most take to prepare is time well spent. And, because these are salads with substance, you can enjoy them as leftovers too—maybe for a filling next-day lunch or even dinner (just store the undressed greens and the dressing separately). Dig into one tonight, and you're well on your way to starting your own salad habit.

Tip:

The portability of salads makes them the ideal bring-to-work lunch for health-conscious eaters. Bright colors are not only pleasing to the eye—they also signal rich amounts of powerful antioxidants.

Resources

Healthy Salad Recipes and Cooking Tips
EatingWell Power Salad
Healthy Diet Recipes and Tips
EatingWell Diet